Toy gas pump



Dec. 18, 1956 Filed Aug. 4, 1954 J. B. MONTGOMERY 2,774,183

TOY GAS PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jqscru B. Mon-mama.

P A/Q Q Y 1956 J. B. MONTGOMERY 2, 7

TOY GAS PUMP 2 Sheets-Shem 2 Filed'Aug. 4, 1954 INVENTOR J sEPH B. MONTGOMERY,

ATTORNEY anon United States Patent IOY .GASvPUMP Joseph B. Montgomery, Douglassville, Pa.

Application August-4, 1954, Serial 'No.-447,787

.4 Claims; (CI. 4639) This invention relates to a toy gas pump, and, more particularly, to a pump-like mechanism for varying the height of a level element simulating gasoline in a transparent tubular gauge.

While toy gas pumps are known in the art, they have the outstanding disadvantage ,of being relatively complicated in construction and expensive to manufacture, also when liquids, such as water, are used :tosimulate gasoline, the great tendency of leakage and faulty operation .has made the devices entirely impractical as toys.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel toy pump to simulate a pump operating element and including a slip clutch for providing a realistic and fool-proof drive.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a study of the following description taken with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a toy gas pump embodying the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the toy gas pump shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, numeral 1 denotes a hollow cylindrical base body of metal, or of hard cardboard wound in the form of a helical spiral such as used for hat boxes, and supported on a base plate 2 of metal, wood or other suitable material. Mounted on the top of base 1 is a transparent cylindrical tube 3 of cellulose acetate or other suitable transparent plastic material and simulating a sighting glass of the level gauge in a gasoline pump. Graduations 4 are provided on tube 3 for denoting the number of gallons of gasoline to be delivered by the pump. At the top of tube 3 there is mounted a top ring 5 upon which is rigidly supported a name plate 6 to bear the trade-mark or name of the pump. Diametrically opposite holes are provided near the top portion of the base body 1 and surrounded by grommets 7 for rotatably supporting a shaft 8 having a crank portion 8a integrally secured to one end thereof projecting outwardly of the base body 1. Also projecting outwardly of base body 1 is a flexible tube or hose 10 of rubber or other suitable material having a nozzle 11 of aluminum or other suitable material telescopically fitted to the end thereof. A metal nozzle holder 12 is provided which is rotatably mounted on a bracket 13 for receiving nozzle 11 in an inverted position from that shown.

Instead of using liquid, there is provided, inside of transr 2,774,183 Patented Dec. 18, 1956 parent tube 3 a hollow cylindrical element '14 with a closed top portion, that is, in the-form of an inverted can or cup, which maybe madeof metal or cardboardor the like which is painted red orof another color on the outside simulating the appearance .of,gasoline. A tie or anchor .15 is provided at the top of the gas.level or cylinder 14 for securing the end of a gas gauge string 16 which is entrained about a pulley .17 and then wrapped around a flexible plastic tube '18 telescopically fitted to shaft 8. The end of string 16 .issecure'lyfastened to plastic. tube 18 which is clamped to shaft 8 by means of clamp 19. The clamp may be adjusted to apply variable clamping pressure to the plastic tube 18 and thus obtain variable degrees of tightness in its encirclement of shaft .8. A cotter pin 20 is provided to serve as a stop element for the crank handle portion '8a.

A bell ringing andbrakc mechanism is provided which comprises-a'bell 21 mountedby aiboltand nut 22 .to the inside of body 1. Abeil striker 23 is fastened to the end of a helical spring24, the other end of which is fastened to shaft 8. A bolt '25 .is 'fastened'to body 1 at the same distance from shaft 8 as the striker 23.

In operation, as crarikhandle'Sa is turned, it will wind up string 16 about plastic tube 18 and therefore will .raise the cylindricalgaslevel element or cylinder 14 giving the appearance of filling of transparent tube 3 with gasoline, the level of which is denoted by the closed top of cylinder 14. Vertical slots 14a are provided on diametrically opposite portions of cylinder 14 so that the cylinder may be guided by shaft 8 and prevented from rotating about its axis.

When the closed top of cylinder 14 strikes the top ring 5 and thus reaches the limit of its possible vertical movement, further cranking of crank 8a will be ineflective to further wind string 16 by virtue of a slip clutch comprising tube 18 and the adjustable hose clamp 19 since there will be slippage between the clamped tube 18 and shaft 8. Thus abnormal cranking of the pump will have no further or adverse clfect on the drive mechanism.

As crank 8a is turned, the bell striker 23 is rotated about shaft 8 and upon each revolution of shaft 8 will strike the bell 21. The striker 23 first hits the bolt 25 which temporarily arrests its movement and enables spring 24 to become tensioned as the result of further rotation of shaft 8, so that upon attainment of a predetermined tension, the striker 23 will slip away from bolt 25 and violent ly strike the bell 21.

In the event that a child would continue to turn the crank So after element 14 had reached its lowermost position, the string would merely wrap the other way causing element 14 to rise.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an efiicient toy gas pump comprising simple and inexpensive parts and being devoid of liquid and at the same time giving a realistic appearance and simulating the operation of a gasoline pump and gauge; furthermore I have provided a cranking mechanism and drive embodying a slip clutch which is of very simple and fool-proof construction and which provides realism and simplicity of operation of the pump; also I have provided a bell alarm which is actuated upon each revolution of'the crank handle to give further realism to the toy gas pump.

While I have illustrated and described an embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this is by way of illustration only, and that various changes and modiiications may be made within the contemplation of my invention and within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A toy gasoline pump comprising a base having mounted thereon a transparent tubular portion, a cylindrical element having a closed top and mounted for vertical movement within said transparent tubular portion, and a ice shaft rotatably mounted on said base portion and in driving relationship with said'element, and a crank secured to said shaft for effecting lifting and loweringsof said cylindrical element, said cylindrical element having diametrically opposite, vertically extending slots,adapt'e"dto'be guided by said shaft, a string having one end secured to said closed top, a pulley for suspending an intermediate portion of the string, the other end of said string being entrained about said shaft by the turning of said crank so as to efiect lifting and lowering movements of said cylindrical element. 7 a 5 2. A toy gas pump as recited in claim 1 together with a bell alarm comprising a bell mounted on the interior of said base and a striker'element therefor supported on a spring element fastened to said shaft so that said striker element will strike the bell upon each revolution of the crank and shaft. V V

3. A toy gasoline pump comprising a vertical, tubular base of opaque material having concentrically mounted thereon a transparent tubular portion of reduced diameter which is devoid of liquid therein, an opaque cap mounted on said last mentioned tubular portion, an opaque cylindrical element having a closed'top end and telescopically fitted in said transparent, tubular portion with its open ended bottom portion projecting into said tubular base, a crank rotatably mounted on and extending outwardly of the top portion of said base, drive means between said crank and said opaque cylindrical element to efiect lifting and lowering thereof as said crank is turned in one direction or in an opposite direction, so as to simulate lifting and lowering of gasoline in said transparent tubular portion. 7

4. A toy gasoline pump comprising a base having mounted thereon a transparent tubular portion, a cylin-' drical element having a closed top and mounted for vertical movement within said transparent tubular portion, a shaft rotatably mounted on said base, a crank secured to said shaft, a string suspension for supporting the top portion of said cylindrical element and including a string 7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,855,138 Rebbd Apr. 19, 1932 2,648,157 Wilson et a1. Aug. 11, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS France Nov. 1 8, 1939 

